In your project, you are expected to design, execute, analyze and report different qualitative and quantitative studies that will ultimately result in a dissertation. For instance, you will conduct group model building sessions to get a better understanding of the experienced facilitators and barriers to adopt novel crop technology with a range of stakeholders in society (e.g., food crop industry, farmers, retailers and out-of-home sector). Also, you will identify factors that influence public’s willingness to consume fruits and vegetables treated with the novel crop protection technology. This will be done in an international comparative survey in order to address cross-cultural differences in food technology acceptance. Finally, experimental studies will test the impact of different communication and marketing strategies on attitudes towards crop protection technology. 

The PhD project is part of a large NWO funded project (KIC Microbiome) that will be led by Wageningen University and Research, and executed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at WUR, Leiden University, University Medical Center Groningen, ETH Zurich, and Tilburg University in collaboration of a number of industry partners. In the overall project multiple PhDs and postdocs will be appointed at the involved institutes and the team represents diverse disciplines (e.g., biology, chemistry, medicine, and psychology). You are expected to actively contribute to the overall project and consortium. 

The successful candidate has

• a completed (research) MSc in marketing and consumer science, communication science, psychology or a related field
• strong academic research skills, with an interest in both qualitative and quantitative research methods
• affinity with subjects close to the project (e.g., food or crop technology, planetary health)
• a good team spirit and enjoys working in an interdisciplinary environment;
• is willing to develop academic writing and publication skills;
• ability to collaborate with stakeholders from academia and industry;
• demonstrable project management skills
• strong communication and social skills
• good command of written and spoken Dutch and/or English language

Language policy
The university is an international university, firmly anchored in the region and therefore bilingual. The language in teaching, research and of the academic community is English, based on 'inclusion'. In this way, international staff and students can also participate fully in the communication on our campus. Our employees are expected to meet the job’s language level. 

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Tilburg University offers excellent terms of employment with attention to flexibility and room for (personal) development. We recognize and reward our employees and encourage the use of talents and strengths.
 
Tilburg University is committed to an open and inclusive culture, embracing diversity, and encouraging the mutual integration of groups of staff and students. We create equal opportunities for all our staff and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community. 
 
We work in a vibrant and lively (work) environment on our beautiful campus, close to the forest and easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution to this. 
 
For this position, we offer:

• A position based on 0.8-1.0 FTE (32-40 hours per week);
• It is a vacancy for 4 years. You will initially be appointed for a fixed period of 12 months with a statutory probationary period of two months. After 12 months, an evaluation will take place. If the performance evaluation is positive, your employment agreement will be extended for the remaining period of 36 months;
• A salary of €2.770 gross per month for full time employment, based on UFO profile Promovendus and salary scale P of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Your salary will increase annually (for a maximum of 4 years);
• Vacation allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%);
• Vacation days (41 days for a 40-hour work week);
• Options Model for benefits and reimbursement of moving expenses;
• Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable wages. We will apply for this reimbursement for you;
• You will be enrolled in the General Pension Fund for Public Employers (ABP) through us;
• Various training courses, for example in leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development;
• A wide range of amenities and facilities and various arrangements to create an optimal work-life balance.

 
Visit working at Tilburg University for more information on our terms of employment. 

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences

Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) has a unique focus on humans in the context of the globalizing digital society, on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies, on their impact on communication, culture and society, and on moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of four departments: Communication and Cognition, Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Culture Studies and Philosophy; several research institutes and a faculty office. Also the University College Tilburg is part of the School. Each year around 275 students commence a Bachelor or (Pre) Master Program. The School has approximately 2000 students and 250 employees.

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences